{the.book.chat} Film Adaptations

However, the idea for this week's topic came from some of the amazing new book inspired movies coming out this next year. Seriously, some epic ones in here. Since you know I don't see movies without reading the books first, I have some hardcore reading to do this year. These all look so incredible.

Probably the one I'm most excited about seeing and not because of the book, but because of the director, Baz Luhrmann (Romeo & Juliet/Moulin Rouge). I have tried at least four times to read this book, but I really cannot break through some barrier and get into it. I absolutely will by next May though, because I have to see this.

I promised myself that I would read The Hobbit before the movie came out. Jeremy just read it and he really liked it, so I'm hoping I'll like it too. No one can deny the mind-blowing'ness of the LotR series, so this film has some big shoes to fill. I don't doubt it's ability to fill them.

I'm currently reading Anna Karenina in preparation of this movie and it's not a bad read at all. Too bad it's like a million pages long. I just love Keira Knightly too much to miss this movie. She is God's gift to period pieces.

Oh dear, this poster. What is most exciting is this one will actually be the musical, unlike the one from the 90's that you had to watch in English class. (It had Liam Neeson, so who's complaining?) Well, this one has Hugh Jackman, so we're all winners in my book.
Honestly, I'm not going to read this one. I was enough of a theatre aficionado in my younger days, so I've seen enough stage versions and read the script enough to know what it's all about. I'm just going to go see it, probably alone, embarrassing myself among unsuspecting Alabamians while I belt out "On my Own". Who's with me?

I think I can probably get over the fact that I have to stare at KStew for another two hours because this movie actually looks pretty awesome. I'm excited to see this book and it's message recycled for the next generation. I have yet to read it, but I feel like I'll just be an overall cooler person after I do. Better get on that.

As for the book-to-movie adaptations that I already love, these are my top 3.

I loved this book more than I thought I would, but I knew I would love this movie as soon as I heard Tom Hanks would be Robert Langdon and Audrey Tautou would be Sophie. I felt like it was an honest and true representation. In fact, this is one time I will admit that I enjoyed the movie more than the book. For the record, I like the book Angels & Demons more than the movie.

I did like the book, but not a whole heck of a lot. I love the story, I love the speech and I love the characters. This director took all of that and ran with it. The product was something, I think, more exquisite and breathtaking than the book ever dreamed of being. Seriously, I watch this movie a lot, and every time, I'm siting with my face in my hands looking like a love-stricken idiot. Be still my heart...the same director is directing Anna Karenina. I cannot wait.

If you read that little rant about movies made out of popular books, then you may be surprised to see this take the #1 spot, but let me tell you. After I finally saw this, and I've seen it at least 4 times now, I think it is such an excellent adaptation of the book. Everything looks and FEELS right. And that's important. You can find people to look the part, and copy line-for-line, but you really have to capture the feeling of the book. This movie did this perfectly, I think. I'm sad to see the same director is not returning for the next book, but I still have hope for the next installment.

These are my favorites of just the ones that I have read. There are other great movies out there that I love, in which I did not read the book first, such as The Lord of the Rings.

So, there is my two cents on a pretty big topic.
What are your favorite book-movies?
Which of these new releases are you most excited about?

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Next week's topic is inspired by Banned Book Week. The topic is banned books and censorship. I'd love to hear your thoughts, rants, questions. If you get involved with your local library or have an experience with this, please share!

I had to read the Hobbit multiple times in school and could never get into it...just like I couldn't get into LOTR. But since Im pretty much obsessed with LOTR I can. not. wait. for the movie to come out. My insides are screeeaaaming!

The Great Gatsby and Les Mis are two I am looking forward to so, so much! And The Hobbit too - but that goes without saying, though I still don't know how I feel about them being made into 3 movies.. we'll see haha

Ditch Anna Karenina (I read and hated that book...it bored the snot out of me) and read Les Mis instead. Love, love, LOVED that book! Then again, I did NOT like the movie adaptation of Hunger Games so maybe I'm not the person you want to take suggestions from :)

I saw the movie version of Power of One about a hundred times before I even knew it was adapted from a book. I eventually read the book but by then I had the movie memorized and it's so different from the book that I absolutely didn't like the book version. Probably the only time you'll hear me recommend a movie over a book.